They say the pen is mightier than the sword but maybe one of your journalists and his editor ought to fall upon their swords.

I quote Personal Announcements, Evening Press, Friday May 13: 'Mum's story: Water's broke 12 week's early...'.

Was this a surreal act of apostrophe procreation or something to do with the date?

I suspect neither. How can we expect young people to have a working grasp of the English language if those working with the language cannot do so accurately?

D C Nicholson,

Grange Garth,

York.

Updated: 09:44 Tuesday, May 17, 2005